Moisture absorbing plug for a firearm chamber



May 30, 1961 .1. M* DoYLE ETAL 2,985,979

MOISTURE ABSORBING PLUG FOR- A FIREARM CHAMBER Filed April 29, 1960 1&1

2,985,979 Patented May Sil, 1961 MOISTURE ABSRBING PLUG FOR A FIREARM CHAMBER Jerry M. Doyle, 2316 W. 22nd St., Sioux Falls, S. Dak.; Robert H. Brookshier, 4940 N. Olive, Kansas City, Mo.; and Robert L. Montgomery, Kansas City, Mo. (2914 W. 93rd St., Leawood, Kans.)

Filed Apr. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 25,726

9 Claims. (Cl. 42-1) This invention relates to a moisture absorbing plug or shell.

While being capable of use in various devices, the improved plug according to the instant invention, is particularly adapted for use in the bores of firearms, such as Shotguns and rifles, for preventing the prevalent accumulation of rust on the surface of the bores thereof.

The present practice to avoid the accumulation of rust on the walls of the bores of firearms is to apply a coating of oil or grease to the surfaces thereof which not only is time consuming but is not wholly effective.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a rust prevention plug which is not only highly effective in preventing the accumulation of rust, but which is capable of being applied and removed in a minimum period of time with the expenditure of a minimum of effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rust preventing plug which is relatively simple in construction, highly effective in use, and which is capable of being manufactured at relatively low cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rust preventing plug of the same external contour as the live shells and cartridges whereby same is capable of being disposed within firearms as substitutes for corresponding shells and cartridges.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is an axial longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention and wherein the plug is in the form of a standard shotgun shell.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, as observed in the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a perforated tube disposed axially of the shell of Figs. 1 and 2, and being on the same scale as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an axial longitudinal sectional View corresponding to Fig. 1, but which is in the form of a standard cartridge for use in rifles.

Fig. 5 is a `fragmental View partially in section and partially in elevation and disclosing the barrel of a rifle with the plug of Fig. 4 operatively disposed therein.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, and first to Figs. l, 2 and 3 thereof, the shotgun type of plug cornprises a cylindrical shell which is preferably of plastic material as indicated, and Whose external surface cor responds to the usual shotgun shell except that same is longitudinally corrugated as is indicated at 11.

A tube 12 is disposed within the shell 10 co-axially thereof and which at one end thereof is provided with a disc 13 through which the bore 14 of the tube 12 extends, as is shown in Fig. l, and at its opposite end, the tube 12 is fiared outwardly, as is indicated at 15.

As shown in Fig. 1, the flared end portion 15 is disposed within a corresponding opening in the end wall 16 of the shell 10 and the disc 13 is disposed within the open end of the shell.

The tube 12 is provided with a multiplicity of aper tures 17.

Disposed within the shell 10 in surrounding relation to the tube 12 and confined by the disc 13 and the end wall 16 is a mass of moisture absorbing silica gell 18.

While the mass of silica gell 1S is confined within the shell 10, sa-me is in atmospheric communication with the gun barrel B (indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2) through the apertures 17, bore 14, as well as the openings 19 and 20 between the disc 13 and the gun barrel B, whereby moisture within the gun barrel is readily absorbed `by the mass of silica ge 18.

The modification according to Fig. 4 embodies the same general features of Figs. 1 to 3, but is in the form of a cartridge for use in rifles R, indicated in Fig. 5.

The structure of Fig. 4 embodies an outer shell 21 of plastic material and which is corrugated longitudinally as shown, and which shell is of plastic material.

An apertured tube 22 of plastic material is disposed within the shell 21 co-axially thereof and which tube is provided with a disc 23 at one end thereof and an opposite outwardly flared end portion 24.

The cartridge type form of Fig. 4 further embodies a simulated bullet 25 of plastic material and whose free end portion is provided with apertures 26.

In use of either form of moisture absorbing plug above described, same is disposed within the firing chamber C of a shotgun or rifle as a replacement for the usual shotgun shell or rifle cartridge, whereupon the barrel of either firearm is preferably closed at its free end as by means of a plug P, shown in Fig. 5.

As air is drawn into or expelled from the bore in either firearm, it necessarily passes through the body of desiccant silica gel 18 and all moisture contained therein is removed in a Well known manner.

The improved plug of either form disclosed may well have other applications such as to protect fishing tackle confined within a box or other articles subject to rust and confined within a receptacle.

It is to be particularly observed that the formation of either plug of plastic material avoids rusting or corrosion thereof.

Having set forth the invention in accordance with certain specific structural embodiments thereof, what is claimed and desired to be secured by U.S. Letters Patent 1. A moisture absorbing plug for disposition within the firing chamber of a firearm having a bore communicating therewith, comprising a shell including a cylindrical wall and an end wall, a tube disposed within said shell co-axially thereof and having one end thereof opening through said end wall, a disc surrounding the opposite end of said tube and substantially closing the opposite end of said shell, the Wall of said tube being provided with a series of apertures, and a body of moisture absorbing material disposed within said shell in surrounding relation to said tube.

2. The structure according to claim l, wherein said shell and said tube are of plastic material, and said shell being longitudinally corrugated.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said tube is flared radially of the tube thereby providing an opening of greater radius than that of the remainder of the tube.

4. A moisture absorbing plug according to claim l, wherein said shell is of an external form conforming to the firing chamber of the said firearm.

5. A moisture absorbing plug for disposition within the firing chamber of a shotgun, comprising a shell of a form corresponding to that of a standard shotgun shell and comprising a cylindrical wall closed at one end by an end Wall, an apertured tube extending through said shell and having one end thereof opening through said end wall,

' a disc surrounding the opposite end of 'said tube and closing the opposite end of said shell, Vand a body of moisture absorbingrmaterial disposed Within said shell in 'surrounding relation to said tube.

6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein 'said cylindrical wall is longitudinally corrugated.

7. A moisture absorbing plug for disposition within the firing chamber of a ride, comprising a shell of a form corresponding to that of a standard rifle cartridge, and including a cylindrical wall closed at one end thereof by an end wall, the opposite end of said cylindrical wall being of reduced diameter, a wall in the for'm of a bullet having an open base end disposed within said Vreduced end of said cylindrical wall, a perforated Vtube disposed within said cylindrical wall centrally thereof and having one end thereof opening through said end wall, a disc sur- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,465,163 Lockwood Mar. 22, 1949 2,594,778 Heard Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Y 596,261 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1947 

